Doctor’s Charges Reduced

A Faulkner County physician is facing fewer and lesser charges from a 2016 sex-crime case.

62-year old Robert Burl Rook, of Conway, was originally charged with 27 sex crimes, 13 counts each of rape and second-degree sexual assault along with one count of third-degree sexual assault.

On Tuesday, special prosecutor James Barrett amended the charges to 11 counts of second-degree sexual assault and 10 counts of third-degree sexual assault.

Rook was initially charged with three counts each of rape and second-degree sexual assault in June 2016 after three women accused the Conway doctor of touching them inappropriately. The incidents occurred at Rook’s office at the Conway Family Practice Clinic at 919 Locust Street. Additional charges against Rook were filed in September 2016.

A two-week trial is set to begin May 14th in Faulkner County Circuit Court.